Stories
RPF catches police personnel traveling ticketless in AC coach with criminal
- •A viral video shows an RPF team catching four police personnel and an inspector traveling in an AC coach without valid tickets for that train.
- •The police staff were escorting a criminal for a court appearance in Rajasthan and claimed they had missed their original train.
- •An argument ensued when RPF and TTE asked them to pay a penalty or disembark, with police citing security concerns regarding the criminal.
- •Railway Seva responded to the viral video on X, stating that the matter has been taken cognizance of and action is being taken by RPF India.
Key Questions Answered
On October 8, 2026, an RPF team in Rajasthan caught a police inspector and several personnel traveling in an AC coach with tickets for a different train. A heated argument ensued as the police staff refused to get off or pay a fine, citing security concerns regarding the criminal they were escorting to a court appearance. Railway Seva acknowledged the viral video on X and stated that the RPF is taking action.
According to Indian Railways rules, passengers must travel only in the coach specified on their ticket, and holding a sleeper ticket does not permit travel in an AC coach without approval. If caught by a TTE, the passenger may be allowed to upgrade if a seat is available by paying the fare difference and any applicable penalties. Otherwise, they can be asked to return to their designated coach, and refusal can lead to action under the Railway Act.
IRCTC and Indian Railways offer an 'Auto Upgrade' feature that automatically moves passengers to a higher class at no extra cost if vacancies exist. For instance, if a sleeper ticket is booked and AC 3-Tier seats are empty during departure, the system can upgrade the ticket to AC 3-Tier, and similarly from AC 3-Tier to higher AC tiers. This feature requires no extra application, just a standard booking via the IRCTC website or app.
